EFFECT OF LASIK SURGERY ON INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE (IOP) IN MYOPIC PATIENTS

Zahida Jabbar*, Zafar Khaled, Mohammad Nizamul Hossain Sowdagar, Sonia Ahsan and Mehjabin Haque

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Intraocular pressure is the lateral pressure exerted by intraocular contents above the atmospheric pressure. IOP decrease can be dramatic in highly myopic corrections. Preoperative IOP is the single strongest predictor of postoperative IOP change, with eyes with higher preoperative IOP having greater IOP decrease. LASIK correction will lower IOP by ∼1 mmHg because of the effect of the lamellar flap. Objective: To assess the intraocular pressure of myopic patients before and after LASIK surgery. Materials and Methods: This prospective, observational, pre and post interventional study was conducted in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), and LASIK SIGHT CENTRE, Gulshan, Ophthalmological Society of Bangladesh (OSB) Laser Visior Centre, Mirpur-2, Dhaka for a period of one year starting from January 2007 to December 2007. A total 40 patients of 80 eyes were evaluated with a view to assess the effect of Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery on intraocular pressure in myopic patients. Group I: IOP before LASIK surgery. Group II: I0P after LASIK surgery. Observations and Results: A total 40 patients of 80 eyes were evaluated with a view to assess the effect of Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery on intraocular pressure in myopic patients. The mean age of the study patient is 25.16±6.33. The number of patients below 30 years of age is and above 30 years of age. Out of 40 patient 24 were female and 16 were male. The mean distribution of 10P of study eyes. The mean SD pre LASIK IOP left eye 11.5±.1.54 mm Hg. After 28th days of operation it was decreased to 10.25±1.34 mmHg. The mean SD pre-LASIK IOP right eye 11.65±1.45 mm Hg. After 28th days of operation it was decreased to10.27±1.33 mm Hg. Majority of the patients were in state of high myopia. Conclusion: The difference between the mean pre and post-LASIK measurements of IOP by Goldmann Applanation tonometer was 1.32 mm Hg, which was significant (P< 0.001). None of the operated eyes had a postoperative IOP higher than the preoperative measurements, after LASIK. Surgeon should be aware of possible change in measurement of IOP with the change of corneal thickness.

Keywords: Intraocular pressure calculation, Post-LASIK glaucoma, Goldmann applanation tonometry, Glaucoma.